LeBanner (3-2 MMA; 81-22-2, 1 NC (65 KO’s) kickboxing) of Etretat,
Seine-Maritime, France will make his first appearance under MMA
rules since 2010 when he lost a unanimous decision to Judo medalist
Satoshi
Ishii. Prior to the defeat, LeBanner had scored three
consecutive knockouts in MMA rules bouts, all under the promotion
of K-1.

The 42-year-old LeBanner, who has faced and defeated every major
rival of his generation in the kickboxing ring over the course of
his 20-plus year professional career, was victorious in both of his
starts this year, scoring a second round (:52) KO on Claudiu
Istrate with a knee strike to the body to retain his I.S.K.A. world
super heavyweight K-1 rules title on April 25, and earning a
unanimous decision over Karl
Roberson on August 4.

At 6-foot-6, 425 pounds, the 31-year-old Hoovelson (0-0 MMA,
431-213-102 sumo) of Estonia is a monstrous specimen who competed
as a professional sumo in Japan between 2004 and 2013. The bout
with LeBanner marks Hoovelson’s MMA rules debut.

Just two years into his career, Hoovelson reached the top division
in the sport, eventually winning a championship in 2012 and earning
five awards for fighting spirit.